Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected nasal septal deviation status post septoplasty with residual deformities has been manifested by greater than 50-percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, warranting a uniform 10-percent rating for the entire appeal period.

The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's bilateral hand condition is less likely than not incurred in or caused by an event, injury or illness in service. The examiner concluded that work in a cold environment would not cause ongoing hand pain unless there was previous evidence of frostbite or cold injury which was not documented in his service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for an adequate examination. The Veteran's dental condition is claimed as related to exposure to iodine pills, iron pills, or Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service connection claim for non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the right hip and its residuals is denied. The Board finds that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service, specifically an in-service motor vehicle accident. However, the Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to March 12, 2014 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the appellant after February 2, 2013. The claim will be reconsidered and a supplemental statement of the case will be issued.

The Veteran's adult son, the appellant, is not entitled to accrued benefits as he has already received $5023 in VA burial benefits and accrued benefits for funeral expenses. The appellant did not meet the criteria for receiving additional accrued benefits.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) as he failed to provide an updated VA Form 21-8940 within one year of being requested by VA.

The Veteran's residuals of an open fracture of the right tibia and fibula are productive of marked impairment on flare-ups, warranting a 30 percent rating. The criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Veteran does not have a current nose disability to include residuals of an inservice nasal fracture, and therefore service connection for the condition is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not due to any service-connected condition, including exposure to herbicide agents. The cause of death listed on his certificate of death was chronic alcohol abuse.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral leg condition did not have its onset during service and are not otherwise related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and readjudication of his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hip disability, including degenerative joint disease and effusion, is secondary to his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination for his partial amputation of the left great toe and skin condition. The issues on appeal include rating for partial amputation of the left great toe, PTSD disability rating, and service connection for a skin condition.

The Veteran's epistaxis is etiologically related to medication used to treat his service-connected status post DVT with post phlebitis syndrome, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 3, 2010 for the payment of dependency benefits for his current spouse was denied by the Board. The decision found that VA received notice of the change in dependent spouse on November 3, 2010 and thus the effective date could not be earlier than this date.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) status-post coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was rated at 30 percent prior to February 18, 2015. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there were no episodes of acute congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction less than 50%.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for pleural plaques due to in-service asbestos exposure. The Board found that the Veteran's current disability of pleural plaques is related to his conceded in-service exposure to asbestos.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current pelvic, hip, and shoulder disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for neurological impairment in the right and left upper extremities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected myofascial strain of the cervical spine.